London Ambassadors will welcome visitors from all over the world to London during the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

You will be given all the training and help needed to make sure you are ready to welcome the world to London. In return you will get free travel within zones 1 - 6 for each day you volunteer, a uniform that you can keep, food and refreshments during your shift plus the opportunity to have access to competitions with very special prizes that only the London Ambassadors can enter.

Volunteering is usually in people's top ten resolutions - and the Government are encouraging it this year.

In its latest green paper on Giving, it wants to promote social action.

Apparently there are over 3 million of us who are willing to volunteer but haven't got round to it yet.

And most of us hear about volunteering by word of mouth.

So, here's my really easy suggestion for a new year's resolution - talk about your volunteering. Talk about how amazing it is, or just that you plan to start. Talk about it with you family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, and strangers....I think that might give you the boost to get started too.

You will have read my recent blog about our youth project Junction49 where we were recently celebrating some successes. Through this I came across an organisation called Pan Intercultural Arts (PIA) where we support young people to volunteer using the Junction49 model.

I was really interested in their innovative work, using the arts to promote cultural diversity and inspire social change; something I believe is a great way to address a very complex issue.

PIA are looking for a volunteer to help out in their London office with Marketing and Admin for January and February to get the word out about their youth leadership and integration project, Synergy. If you're interested get in touch with Laura at the PIA.

If you'd like to voluntee in the arts, music and drama world, have a look at our website which will give you some ideas.

I must admit the first time I heard of World Book Day was when my son came home from school and told me that in order to celebrate this great event, the whole school would be dressing up as a favourite character from a book. This has now become an annual ritual in our house and so I was delighted to hear that now I can also get involved.

If they don’t manage to hand them all out on the night, the remainder will be distributed by World Book Night itself in places that might otherwise be difficult to reach, such as prisons and hospitals.

I’ve signed up to hand out books on international book day – do you fancy joining me?

But there's another sprint to get 1.8 million people using the internet by the end of the Olympic year.

There are still too many people in the UK missing out on what the internet offers - information, advice, jobs, contact with friends.

9 million adults in the UK have never used the internet

4 million of these are the most socially disadvantaged

6 million of these are 65 years old or over

TimeBank is one of the 900 partners so far that have signed up to help get this group to the finishing line. We're busy supporting volunteers to help older people, unemployed people and Muslim women get to grips with technology.

It's only eight days until Christmas. Are you still looking for volunteering?

We'd suggest you start looking around early- that sounds a bit ridiculous but it's such a popular time to volunteer, you need to get in there quick. If you just haven't had a chance to get around to it, but you're still keen to get away from the turkey and port and do something a bit different, here are our top tips:

- Search our website - if you type Christmas into the keyword, it should come up with something locally

- Get in touch with your local volunteer centre - if you haven't already, sign up with us and we'll match you to your local volunteer centre

- Contact your local community centre - they're bound to need your help over Christmas

Hopefully, you'll get to do something but if you don't - start looking now for the New Year. Volunteering isn't just for Christmas - get some ideas here.

If you’re anything like me as the weather turns colder you will find it harder to get out of bed in the mornings.

On my way to work the other day, thinking about my warm bed, I walked past someone who was sleeping rough. It was an icy cold morning and had snowed the day before. I felt so guilty. Not so much because I'd woken up in a warm bed but that I had become complacent, something that happens when you live in a city like London.

3600 people slept rough last year in London alone. I decided that I wanted to do something.

I have since applied to volunteer with Crisis over the Christmas season, the national charity for single homeless people. They provide vital companionship, hot meals and warmth, and a wide range of essential services that homeless people often miss out on.

If you want to do something for homeless people at this time of year check out our website where you can get some ideas.